Answer By law4u team
The Vishaka Guidelines were significant because they were the first formal framework in India to address sexual harassment of women at the workplace. Key points of their significance: They were laid down by the Supreme Court of India in 1997 in Vishaka & Others v. State of Rajasthan after the gangrape of social worker Bhanwari Devi. Filled a legal gap – At that time, there was no specific law on sexual harassment at work in India. Defined “sexual harassment” clearly and recognized it as a violation of women’s fundamental rights under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution. Made it mandatory for employers to prevent and address sexual harassment, including creating Complaints Committees with a woman chairperson and an NGO member. Had the force of law until Parliament enacted the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, which was largely based on these guidelines. In short, the Vishaka Guidelines were a landmark step that recognized workplace sexual harassment as a human rights violation and created binding rules in the absence of legislation.
